Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs. Bose 700 is a heavyweight contest between two of the best noise canceling headphones money can buy.
Recently launched, the Momentum 4 is Sennheiser’s latest headphone that combines ANC (Active Noise Canceling) and audio in a more streamlined design. Battery life has increased significantly over the previous generation Momentum 3, as well as the number of features and smart controls.
For more than three years, no model has surpassed the Bose 700 as the best-in-class option. Bose’s ANC technology remains best in class. The 700’s ultra-modern design deserves to be shown at MET. These headphones also come with satisfying sound, better call quality, and serviceable features that enhance the user experience.
How do you choose between the two? The Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs Bose 700 comparison should help you narrow down your decision. Let’s delve into it.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs Bose 700: Price
The $399 Sennheiser Momentum 4 is a bit more expensive than the $379 Bose 700, though the latter is often discounted from major online retailers (we’ve seen them as low as $269). Every pair of headphones is sold in black and silver, but the Bose 700 saw limited editions in Soapstone, Triple Midnight, and Apple-exclusive Black/Copper.
Taking into account the sales opportunities, the Bose 700 stands out as the most attractive offer. Don’t expect to see the Momentum 4 indicator drop anytime soon.
Be sure to bookmark our headphones deals page for the latest sales.
winner: Bose 700
Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs Bose 700: Specs comparison
| Sennheiser Momentum 4 | Bose 700 | |
|---|---|---|
| price | US$399.99 | $379.99 |
| size and weight | 7 x 7.67 x 1.82 inches; 10.3 oz | 8 x 6.5 x 2 inches, 8.95 inches |
| Battery life | 60 hours | 20 hours |
| Connection | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Special Features | Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency Mode, Adaptive Audio Settings, Equalizer Settings, Smart Controls, Digital Assistant Support, Google Fast Pair, Multipoint Technology, aptX Adaptive | Adjustable Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency Mode, Equalizer Settings, Smart Controls, Digital Assistant Support, Voice Self Mode, Spotify Tap, Multipoint Technology |
Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs. Bose 700: Design
Redesigns are either hit or miss. Momentum 4’s design is a miss to us. Aside from welcome additions like a nylon headband and stylish carrying case, the rest of the design shares a common look with many inexpensive noise-canceling headphones (Treblab Z7 Pro). (Opens in a new tab) comes to mind). It’s hard to fathom why Sennheiser removed the shiny Momentum 3 yoke attached to the front of each ear piece; It’s a defining feature that has become part of the series’ identity. Comfort isn’t the most pleasant either, due to the extra weight of the Momentum 4.
The 700 headphones are a work of art. Bose got creative with its design, putting the extenders on a tracking system for smooth tuning and not exposing a single screw, line or piece of thread. Even the faux leather on the earflaps and headband provides a nice, secure fit. These cases are mostly made of hard plastic and aluminum, but they look like they’re molded from a single piece of material.
winner: Bose 700
Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs. Bose 700: Controls
The Momentum 4 has a responsive button input and wear detection. Speech recognition is ready to run voice commands via Bixby, Google Assistant, or Siri. When things vibrate are the touch controls. Sennheiser’s touch sensor tends to fall asleep after several minutes of inactivity and won’t register any flicks or swipes until you wake up, which takes a minute. When the sensor is on, it accurately records your touch gestures and allows you to perform cool tricks like manually adjusting ANC/transparency levels with a special pinch gesture.
Touch controls work quickly on the Bose 700. Motion detection starts auto-off/on immediately when headphones are removed/worn and the digital assistant works flawlessly. You also get the Spotify Tap functionality which can be assigned to the action button for instant access to the streaming service. There’s one complaint we have about the Bose 700’s touchpad — the built-in extender overlaps the touchpad, reducing the coverage area for tap and swipe gestures.
winner: Bose 700
Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs. Bose 700: Active Noise Cancellation
Three years later, the Bose 700 still offers class-leading noise cancellation. Bose’s eight-mic adaptive system (six used for ANC) removes up to 95 percent of ambient noise and reduces the other 5 percent that comes through the sound field. We’ve used these headphones on flights, commutes around New York City, many indoor places (eg grocery stores, malls, parks), and enjoy the silence everywhere we go.
Distractions only happen when you’re surrounded by many high-frequency sounds at once, and even then, the headphones cancel them out at such a high rate that they sound like background effects on songs. Bose gives you 11 levels of adjustable ANC to customize how much noise you want to block out. Transparency mode is just as effective at increasing your awareness of your surroundings.
Don’t think for a second that Momentum 4 is an easy task for the ANC. Their noise canceling technology works similarly to the Bose 700 (the feature is always on) and adapts better to noisy environments than the Sony WH-1000XM5. Multiple ANC levels combined with a dual setting windproof mode help neutralize most sounds across the frequency spectrum; Some high frequency noise is audible. Sennheiser’s versatile Transparency Mode is also powerful enough to capture near sounds and accidental sounds from afar.
With more testing, it is possible to identify the Momentum 4 as a better noise-cancelling solution, but our years of ANC use with the 700 headphones won’t allow us to make that call yet.
winner: Bose 700
Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs. Bose 700: Sound Quality
The versatility of audio that Momentum 4 has demonstrated is phenomenal. Sennheiser’s 42mm transducer system produces great hi-fi sound that sounds even better when listening to music on lossless streaming services (for example, Deezer, Tidal), thanks to its adaptive aptX codec support. Hard-of-hearing listeners will notice the slightest nuances in complex recordings. There are several ways to customize the sound, including a 3-band equalizer, six well-designed presets, Sound Check to automatically adjust the equalizer for your hearing, and Sound Zone to improve the EQ (or noise cancellation) for your location.
When the Bose 700 was originally launched, it was considered an important audio upgrade from the QuietComfort 35 II and a good audio model. Still. We really like the Bose’s warm, balanced sound profile for most of the music selection. The EQ in the Bose Music app gives you the freedom to tweak the bass, mids, and treble, and it has four great presets that will do the job for you. Unfortunately, this is not enough to compete with Sennheiser’s voice.
winner: Sennheiser Momentum 4
Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs Bose 700: app and special features
Sennheiser offers more significant features for the price. Their Smart Connect app carries the basics mentioned above like ANC/Adaptive/Transparency mode, Equalizer, Sound Zones and Sound Check. Other notables include Sidetone to adjust voice clarity during calls and Comfort Call to reduce listener fatigue. There are also several toggle controls to enable/disable different functions (head detection, smart pause, auto shutdown).
Bose has gradually added more features to the Headphone 700 through updates. Downloading the Bose Music app gives you control and customization of the EQ, along with adjustable ANC levels and the option to save three favorites that can be activated when the action button is pressed. The Self-Voice setting should not be overlooked as it improves call quality by adjusting how loud you can sound on calls. Rounding out the app are a music player, volume slider, standby timer, battery level indicators, digital assistant selection, and toggle controls.
The Momentum 4 runs on Bluetooth 5.2 and the 700 headphones on Bluetooth 5.0. Both provide smooth and stable connection, have quick pairing options, and support multipoint technology.
winner: Sennheiser Momentum 4
Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs. Bose 700: Battery Life
Momentum 4 (60 hours) provides nearly three times the runtime of the Bose 700 (20 hours). This means that a full charge with Sennheiser headphones can get you close to a month of moderate use, while Bose headphones will need a recharge sooner rather than later. Fast charging is also more powerful in the Momentum 4 with a 5-minute charge that generates 4 hours of playback time versus the 700’s 3.5 hours on a 15-minute charge.
winner: Sennheiser Momentum 4
Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs Bose 700: call quality
I never thought the day would come when another noise-isolating headphone would match the Bose 700’s excellent call quality, but here we are. The Momentum 4 produces high definition audio and video calls in any environment, and has the best wind resistance in the class to reduce flickering effects. You’ll get similar results from the Bose 700. The connectivity features on both models make for noticeable differences in performance. Investing in the Enhanced Bose 700 UC (Opens in a new tab) It’s only justified for business users who want to boost connectivity for video chats on Microsoft Teams, Zoom or Google Meets, but the standard 700 headphones and Momentum 4 are quite reliable for conferencing.
winner: Necktie
Winner: tie
The Sennheiser Momentum 4 accomplishes the amazing feat of being associated with the Bose 700 as the best noise canceling headphones on the market. These are equally excellent models with strong selling points and concessions. ANC, controls, and design favor Bose’s offering, while audio, battery life and features favor Sennheiser’s latest innovations.
| Sennheiser Momentum 4 | Bose 700 | |
|---|---|---|
| value (5) | 4 | 5 |
| design (15) | 11 | 15th |
| controls (10) | 7 | 8 |
| Active Noise Cancellation (20) | 19 | 20 |
| sound quality (15) | 15th | 12 |
| Application and Special Features (15) | 13 | 12 |
| battery life (10) | 10 | 7 |
| call quality (10) | 10 | 10 |
| total score (100) | 89 | 89 |
Yes, the Bose 700 is more accessible these days, especially during the shopping holidays, but the Momentum 4 proves to be just as valuable at its higher price point.